ALK - What's going on?????

[PrejeanPrincess]

Okay, so my in-laws are staying at ASMu, hoping they will switch to ALK I have been keeping track with availability. Yesterday all room catagories were open, today, no availability for any catagory. BTW, our dates are Sept. 8-13 with free dining. So, I thought, well maybe the free dining offer is sold out, but when I check without any promos. there is still no availability. Is a matter of fact, there is not availability at any time (May, June, July, etc.). I called CRO and they told me as much as I already knew. So, WHAT IS UP???

 

[hollieplus2]

I was wondering the same thing. Yesterday all rooms were open and today nothing. My dates are Sept 28-Oct 7. Not during free dining.

 

[teethrdh]

Maybe they are getting complaints about construction noise and trying to lower room capacity to keep people away from it, that is purely a guess. Maybe its just a glitch... I noticed the same thing though, as we switched our week to WL and I looked to see if it opened up and it didn't have any let alone the one I just gave up Heather

 

[Dis Ohana]

I just ran the dates we'll be there - Dec. 15 through 17, nothing available. How strange.

 

[grannyminnie]

I'm going to check in with this thread to see what people find out...we're booked at the end of Nov. and I sure don't want to think that we will regret our decision to stay there!!
Incidentally, when I went to the WDW website a minute ago to check our dates, the system was "down", as it seems to be a lot lately. (this is why I phoned in to book my ressies!)

 

[jwfla422]

We got back from AKL about a week ago. The bellman who brought our stuff down told me it was very slow due to the construction. We had a standard room and didn't find any inconvenience with the construction at all. Really depends on your room location. I guess if it gets any slower there they may need to start offerring some deep discounts for that resort.

 

[Dis Ohana]

But if it's slow, why is the website showing no availability? I just confirmed my stay there last week, and there were rooms still available in every category.
I'm thinking computer glitch. I can't imagine the rooms selling out that quickly for so many dates.
jwfla422, glad to hear you had a good stay. I know you were concerned about construction before your trip. Do you know if they are working on the weekends?

 

[disneydance]

Im thinking the same thing ill check my date and give you a update but when we called the lodge about construction they said we will NOT hear noice so i think all the people saying theres noise havent called the resort for them self no flames please

 

[disneydance]

Ok i just checked and my dates 6/24-6/28 are not available i think it a glitch in the computer with no one wanting to stay there since they havent called the resort for the self only thing i can say is we are booked there and are not switching

 

[goinback]

I was on the phone with CR a couple of days ago asking why I could not get an accurate quote online. They told me the sight was having problems because they are doing upgrades.

 

[Kata]

I just called for some dates in 12/07 (low season) and there was no rooms available at all. The CM said maybe it was because of Pop Warner. I would hope they wouldn't be staying at AKL. I also thought that was the 1st week of December,I thought they would be gone by the dates I checked in. I mentioned the construction issue and he said all the construction in that building would be done in July. Does that sound right? I don't think Disney should upgrade their system anymore because it seems to cause problems for everyone. You would think that Disney could afford the best computer gurus available but it sure seems like they computer issues than any other website I have ever used before.
Thanks!!!

 

[PrejeanPrincess]

I, too, find it hard to believe that AKL would be sold out from now until Dec. I also think that a computer glitch would affect all the resorts and not just AKL. Maybe just wishful thinking. I personally think they have just stopped taking ressies for AKL right now, but i'll keep checking.

 

[ktink]

I, too, find it hard to believe that AKL would be sold out from now until Dec. I also think that a computer glitch would affect all the resorts and not just AKL. Maybe just wishful thinking. I personally think they have just stopped taking ressies for AKL right now, but i'll keep checking.

This makes perfect sense. And perhaps this is wishful thinking but maybe they're trying to insure that each guest will not be affected with the construction. It seems that if alot of guests were unhappy that would be worse than partially booking the hotel. Like I said I know it's probably wishful thinking.

 

[Dis Ohana]

This makes perfect sense. And perhaps this is wishful thinking but maybe they're trying to insure that each guest will not be affected with the construction. It seems that if alot of guests were unhappy that would be worse than partially booking the hotel. Like I said I know it's probably wishful thinking.

It would be nice to have fewer guests while we're there, as long as they don't touch my ressie !
Hey, ktink..I thought you decided on the WL? I see you're ticker is at AKL again, good choice!

 

[Tink10]

I was able to find availability through the AAA website all throughout the fall....

I wonder if the issue may have something to do with upcoming Villas availability that they'll be adding in soon.......


EDITED: This may have something to do with it:

http://advc.disney.go.com/media/dvc/languagespecific/eng/resorts/animalKingdomVillas/DAKVMap.pdf

 

[MissMet]

DVC members received a mailing with a "time-line" of the construction in the Lodge itself on the fifth & sixth floors (Jamba House). This is not for the new DVC portion but just the two new DVC floors in AKL.

Zebra Trail- first half (closest to lobby) finished July '07, second half (further from lobby) finished Sept '07

Kudu Trail - finished Dec '07

Ostrich & Giraffe Trail - May '08

New building, totally DVC, Kidani Village - finished '09

here's a link to a map of the lodge:
http://www.allearsnet.com/acc/aklmap3.jpg

The new DVC building will be to the left of the AKL, so if you ask to stay on the right side of the resort (Zebra & Giraffe Trail) the only construction you'll have to worry about is the 5 & 6 floor & if you're there after Sept, I would guess, you really should'nt have to worry about that.

 

[ktink]

It would be nice to have fewer guests while we're there, as long as they don't touch my ressie !
Hey, ktink..I thought you decided on the WL? I see you're ticker is at AKL again, good choice!

I've been such a mess w/ the resorts. We finally decided on AKL.

 

[dlnsmmy1]

Does anyone know if AK villas will be available for a reservation in August. I know the above post says they are supposed to be finished with the first part in July but when are they going to open it for reservations?
Thanks for the info.

 

[ktink]

I talked w/ a DVC guide Friday and she told me that the villas would be available on 9/1. I'm sure someone will be able to elaborate more on this. We actually received a call from this guide. We had received a DVC DVD from where we entered the AKL DVC sweepstakes. And she was really trying to push the purchase. Although we will only be going to WDW every other year this wouldn't be a smart purchase for our family.

 

[PrejeanPrincess]

Does anyone know if AK villas will be available for a reservation in August. I know the above post says they are supposed to be finished with the first part in July but when are they going to open it for reservations?
Thanks for the info.

I tried to book a 2 bedroom through CRO and they said only DVC members were eligible. Then they proceeded to tell me there were no 2 bedrooms. My guess would be only 1 beds and studios on the 5th and 6th floors. Or the person I was talking to didn't have a clue. We are staying put in 2 rooms. It would be smart on Disneys part to have DVC options (ex. 1 & 2 beds) that were not DVC, kind of like the ASMu suites at the deluxe resorts (other than the $1200/night suites) that can accomodate more people. We are a family of 6 and my mother usually travels with us so that makes 7, so 2 rooms are a must. But the 2 bed. is even better, however, we felt that mousekeeping was definately not the same as in the regular resort. Now, before I get flamed, we booked through CRO, we did not rent points. We also requested turn down service but were told DVC did not get that service. My question, why? I am not DVC, I paid alot per night to stay there, you would think that cash customers would get the same services as others staying at the regular resorts. Maybe, last trip was just a fluke and service is typically great, I hope that is the case.